Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-08-12
POLITICAL STRAWS.
PROHIBITION SUFFERS A CRUSHING
DEFEAT IN TEXAS.
The Result in Kentucky Still in Doubt
Tho Democratic Candidate for Gov
ernor Blamed by His Party
for Their Losses.

GALVESTON, Texas, Aug. 5.-The amend
ments to the constitution submitted to the
people by the last legislature for their
ratification which were voted upon yes-
terday are briefly as follows The first
was to prohibit the manufacture, sale or
exchange of intoxicating liquor except
for medical, mechanical, sacramental and
scientific purposes the second to change
the compensation of members of the legis-
lature from 50 per day for the first GO days
of each session to So per day for the first
80 days of each session; the third proposed
TO amend the present constitution SO as to
authorize the legislature to invest the per
manent State university fund in bonds
of the United States, the State of Texas,
of counties in that State, or in such other
securities and under such restrictions as
may be prescribed by law the fourth pro
ylded for changes in assessment ana TAX
alton the fifth empowered the Legislature
to pass registration laws the sixth was the
judiciary amendment.
All the interest was centered in the pro
hibition amendment. The fight for and
against its modification was conducted
with great vigor. Never in the history OF
Texas has such a canvass been waged. 1t
was no party issue. The ablest men OF
both parties were arrdyed against each
other in the contest. Able men from
abroad took part. The'papers of the State
discussed the question daily, for and
against, until the people from one end of
the State to the other were thoroughly
aroused. For months the question was
discussed from every conceivable rostrum
and platform in Texas, until the align
ment became sharply drawn and the ten
sion exceedingly taut between the sup
porters and opponents.
This election has CanSpN revelation
foreign to our customs. In the metro
polls of TeXas-a State where hitherto
men have controlled the ballot-its wo-
men, whose place has always been at the
fireside were at the polls endeavoring to
exercise popular suffrage. And these
women were not the short-haired cru
saders who have been abused from the
stump OF Texas for the past several
months, but Galveston's own fair ladies,
wives of prohibition enthusiasts, who
tried to transform the polling places into
picnic grounds by establishing around
them refresbmen booths, where temper
ance drinks were served in lavish proper
ton to the hungry and thirsty voters, I'M
der canopies laden with appeals. While
reports so far received from other portions
OF the State are meagre sufficient returns
have been received by the Galveston News
to show that prohibition has been defeat
ed in the State by Il larger majority than
previously estimated.
The Result in Texas.
GALVESTON, Aug. THE election re-
turns received last night show total ma
jority thus far against the prohibition
amendment of $4,000, indicating major
ity in the State of $4,000.
Democrats Call Bucknera Stick.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 5.-Private advices
received here are of nature to carry con-
sternation to the democrats. The de-
spatches represented that the latest re-
turns from Kentucky show possibility
that the State has been carried by the re-
Dublicans, and a certainty that the demo-
Gratis, if they have been successful, have
only been so by a very narrow margin.
The result, at all events, is the worst set
back the democrats of Kentucky have
ever experienced, and is calculated to non
plus the politicians. The democrats are
inclined to lay the blame chiefly upon
their candidate for governor, Buckner,
who is now denounced by them as per-
feet 'stick," whose course in the cam
paign was marked by notable inefficiency
and cowardice. But, in addition TO this,
there is no doubt as to the wonderful
growth of republican strength in Ken
tucky of late, and this election is elo-
quently illustrative of it.